Energy Performance Certificates and your home
An Energy Performance Certificate is commissioned by the seller (or their agent) from an accredited Energy Assessor, who visits the property to collect the relevant data and creates the certificate. This data includes the date, construction and location of the house and relevant fittings (heating systems, insulation or double glazing, for example).
An Energy Performance Certificate shows the official energy efficiency rating of a property. The certificate provides you with a rating for the building, showing its energy efficiency and its environmental impact on a scale from A-G (where A is the most efficient and G the least efficient), in graphical format. It also contains recommended ways to improve the building's energy performance. The ratings will vary according to the age, location, size and condition of the building. The potential rating on the certificate will take these factors into account, and the suggested measures will be tailored so that they are realistic for the particular building.
All buildings in the UK that are constructed, sold or rented out have to have an Energy Performance Certificate, in accordance with the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
Energy Performance Certificate Inspection
The inspector will have a photo id card which he/she will show you.
The inspection is non-invasive -no drilling, no panels removed, no disturbance to the fabric of your home.
- The inspection will last for around 1 hour depending on property size
- Measurements of the exterior and interior of the home
- Visual inspection of the exterior and interior of the home
- Visual; inspections of each of the rooms of the home
- The type of glazing in the windows
- The light fixtures The type of light bulbs
- Any fires
- A visual inspection of the heating system
- The boiler
- The hot water storage cylinder (if present)
- The systems controls
- A visual inspection of any fireplaces or secondary heating systems
- A visual inspection of the gas/electricity meters/oil/bulk gas tanks
- A visual inspection of the loft space
- An inspection of any other energy related products
- Basements and cellars will also be inspected (if present)
- Corridors and adjacent stairwells of flats will also be inspected
- At this time it will be advisable to have any guarantees for any works done to the home available for inspection, any information about your home's heating, double glazing system and refurbishment works that have added extra insulation will help establish your property's energy rating
Example
Click to view an example EPC
For more information on how to order an EPC click here
Why is the Certificate important?
Nearly 40 per cent of the UK's energy consumption arises from the way in which our 25 million buildings are lit, heated and used. Even comparatively minor changes in energy performance and the way we use each building will have a significant effect in reducing energy consumption - and therefore carbon emissions.
Communities and Local Government is leading the introduction of a number of energy and cost-saving measures to make all buildings more efficient. These measures are being applied across all European Union countries and are in line with the European Directive for the Energy Performance of Buildings.
The Energy Performance Certificate is part of these new measures to improve property efficiency and includes suggestions to enable homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of the building. This can mean lower energy bills for the occupiers, and could make homes more attractive to potential purchasers.
The certificate also provides contact details for the Energy Savings Trust, who can help you find out whether you could be eligible for grants or discounts to help carry out these improvements to your home. It also lists simple ways that changes in behaviour can save you energy and money - without the need for any works
Please contact us or call us on 07941 005932 if you are an individual or business requiring an Energy Survey and would like a quotation or advice specific to your needs.